He was joined on the women’s side by 17-year-old Victoria Duval, appearing in the main draw for a second consecutive year; 2008 US Open girls’ champion Coco Vandeweghe, and Grace Min. Vandeweghe starts against fellow qualifier Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, while Duval will be a giant underdog against the firepower of No. 11 seed Sam Stosur.

Notes: Two-time defending champ Serena Williams obviously didn’t like the under-the-table appearance fee to appear in Stanford, passing on the event and last week playing the tiny Swedish Open in Bastad, which was willing to pony-up some major cash…Tough starts are (1) Radwanska after a bye possibly facing the former Slam champ Schiavone, (8) Rybarikova vs. the explosive Keys, and (2) Stosur after a bye likely facing the powerful Goerges….Wildcards went to American Nicole Gibbs and Croat Ajla Tomljanovic…Pulling from the event were Marion Bartoli (hamstring), Kirsten Flipkens, Sabine Lisicki (wrist), and Maria Sharapova (hip)…Since 1990, 20 of the 23 champions have been Slam winners, but this year there are no returning champions in the field.

Women’s Notes: Sterling field featuring six of the Top 10…Wildcards went to Stosur, Na, and Brits Johanna Konta and Elena Baltacha…Four former Slam champs in the field…Tough starts for (8) Petrova vs. (WC) Stosur, (5) Wozniacki vs. the defending champ Paszek, (7) Ivanovic vs. the crafty Russian Vesnina, and (2) Na vs. Cornet, then either Bartoli or Flavia Pennetta…No. 55-ranked American Christina McHale was the last direct acceptance in the quality field…Pulling from the event were Sara Errani, Yaroslava Shvedova and Sloane Stephens…Former champs in the field are Paszek (2012), Bartoli (2011), Eraterina Makarova (2010), Wozniacki (2009), and Radwanska (2008).

“The longer the match went on, I realized I had to change up my game. I played differently than I was hoping to be able to. He got more comfortable as the match went on. Obviously, once I was down a set I knew it was going to be difficult. I’m happy to be out there and able to compete, but it’s obviously a small issue. That doesn’t work against guys like Rafa, obviously.”

“I should have won easier,” said the outspoken Latvian, who was also a qualifier in his previous event at Delray Beach where he ran all the way to the title. “I played better than him the first set. I played better than him the whole match, I think. It’s just that the first match just mentally I destroyed myself, and that’s what happened.”

“There are some few adjustments that I need to make and get a little bit sharper on the court,” said Djokovic, who will next face American Ryan Harrison. “But it’s expected in the first match you’re still not a 100 percent on the court.”